Refrigerator door



March 22, 1932- E H. NoRwooD REFRIGERATOR DOOR Filed Nov. 16, 1929 l l l I Ilnflll/lllll f;

Patented 22, 1932 i UNITED STATES ERNEST HENRY NOB'WOOID,` 0l' ST. PETEBSBUBG, FLORIDA maremma noon appnomonmearovembq 1e, ma. serial m. 467,723.

This invention relates to improvements in doors designed especially for use in refrigerators.

The primary object of the present inven- .5 tion is to provide a refrigerator door having associated therewith means whereby the escape of cold air from the refrigerator when A the door is opened, may be prevented.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a refrigerator' door having associated therewith a device which in addition to act-- ving to prevent the escape of air from the refrigerator when the door is opened will act as a brace and support forthe door so-that l5 the same, mounted to swing outwardly on `horizontal hinges, may be used as a shelf or support for articles as the same are being removed or placed inthe refrigerator.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of a door secured on a hinge extending transversely of thev refrigerator so that it may swing in a vertical plane, having secured to each side thereof a metal plate conforming in design to substantially a quarter of a circle. One straight edge of each plate is secured to one side of the door while the other straight edge which has a lateral iiange integral therewith is disposed in a slot in the body of the refrigerator and moves in and out of the slot as the door is opened or closed, the flange engaging one side of the slot to prevent the door swinging down below a substantial horizontal position.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this speci-v fication, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is aview in front elevation of a refrigerator equipped with the door and shield embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one side of a door opening showing the shield receiving recess therein. j

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section through one side of the refrigerator withthe door 1n openposition. 5

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the quadrant plates or shields.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the 50. several views, the numeral l indicates generally a refrigerator of any conventional type in which the front is provided with transvrse openings 2 leading to the interior thereo Closing each of the openings 2 is a door 3 which is mounted upon the hinge 4 which eX- tends transversely of the lower part of the door opening so that the doorswings in a vertical plane when opened or closed.

At each side of each door opening a vertical slot 5 is formed which leads into a recess 6 in the .wall of the refrigerator, the recess being of slightly greater width than the pening or slot 5 thus forming the shoul- 7;,

To each end or side of each door is secured one straight edge of a quadrant plate l8 the radius of which is substantially equal to the height of the slot 5. The other straight edge of the plate 8 as shown in Figure 3 extends through the slot 5 into the recess 6 and has formed integral therewith the right angularly projecting flange 9. As shown the iiange 9 abuts the shoulder 7 when the refrigerator 85 door is swung open so that the door is stopped in a horizontal position.. This makes it possible to use the door as a supporting structure before the opening of the refrigerator and in addition the plate 8 at each end of the 90 door prevents the cold air from the refrigerator flowing out and over the ends of the door. This is particularly true when the door is opened only slightly as it is well 'known that cold air drops and' it will thus 95 be seen that it cannot escape from the refrigerator when the door is opened in this manner. i

In order to further prevent the escape of cold air when the door is opened a hinge 10 100 2 naman is emplo ed which extends entirely across the lower edge of the door and door opening, this hinge being of the type commonly em- Y ployed in pianos.

5 From the foregoing it will be seen that a refrigerator equipped with doors of the type herein described will be much more economical than those of the type where the doors Y are swung open or if they have doors which 1 swing downwardly where they are not equipped with the end plates or quadrants shown and described in connection with the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1. 'lhe combination with a refrigerator having a door opening, of a door having shoulders about its inner face, a hinge extending transversely of the refrigerator and thedclror'theretotoswmgl:l inh: vertical lane, sai hinge acting to ose t opening netween the lower edge of the door andthe refrigerator, said refrigerator body at each side of the door opening having a res cess formed therein, a quadrant plate at each end of the door having one straight edge secured thereto andy having the other straight edge rmanently within said recess, said plate adapted to substantiall com- 0 pletel enter the recess when the oor is closed); said opening having abutment shoulders engaged by the door shoulders, those abutment shoulders adjacent the recesses being upon the inner sides of the recesses, and 35 means for preventing the complete removal of the plate from the recess.

2. The combination with a refrigerator Y having a door opening, of a door, a hinge extending transversely ofthe refrigerator and n connecting the door thereto to swing in a vertical pnlane, said hingeactng to close the opening tween the lower edge of the door and the refrigerator, said refrigerator body at each side of the door opening having a re- 5 ces formed therein, a quadrant plate at eachv end of the door ha one straight edge secured thereto and having theother straight edge permanently within said rece, said plate being adapted to substantially completely enter the recess when the door is closed, means to provide a shoulder within the reces, and a flange exten laterally fromthatedgeofeachplatewi therecess adapted to abut the shoulder to prevent u complete removal of the plate from the re cess.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

ERNEST HENRY NORWOOD. 

